#WhyiNEDAwalk

#WhyINEDAwalk

NEDA, also known as the National Eating Disorder Association is a huge association that brings awareness and funding to eating disorders on a national level. I attended the NEDA walk in West Chester, PA in 2014 with the SDA club. Being almost oblivious or blind to what eating disorders were, this walk really sparked my interest and passion for helping others and raising awareness. Forwarding a year, i was able to be apart of the NEDA West Chester committee. Reaching out to the former walk coordinator, who is now the NEDA Walk Manager in NYC I was able to connect with Tamie, a eating disorder survivor and now a eating disorder coach to further my involvement with the walk. The NEDA walk in West Chester, PA was held on November 14, 2015 at the East Goshen Park. We had over 400 walkers and raised more than $22,000 for this evil disease. We had raffles from local shops and restaurants, sponsors, speakers and our local congressman come together to raise awareness and help crush this disease and bring hope and awareness to those who are being currently affected. 

But WHY do i NEDA walk being that I've never been affected personally with an eating disorder?

I NEDA walk because I'm not naive to what an eating disorder is anymore. It's not a choice and it's not gender specific and it's not age dominant. It can affect EVERYONE and ANYONE. Eating disorders aren't taken seriously enough. Not by those who it doesn't effect. Not by the government. AND most importantly not by the victims and not by the insurance companies. Too often I see social media bashing the mental images people have of themselves. Too often I see people joke and unconsciously talk in ways that could influence eating disorders. Eating disorders ARE real, ARE harmful and ARE able to be cured.

I walk because I care. I walk because I know of people who struggled with eating disorders. I walk because there needs to be change and there needs to be awareness.

Why do you NEDA walk?


Along with the walk, i did a project that influenced the poster above. Being one of 10 girls living in the same house in college, we all know what it feels like to be "not enough" or "ugly" or "lack self confidence". For a few weeks before NEDA I had all 9 of my roommates come into my room to write something you like about yourself on my white board and these are what they came up with!- take a look.

YOU ARE...

happy, motivated, enough, beautiful, groovy, spunky, clean, nice, gorgeous, strong, creative, flawless, caring, stubborn, confident, scared, brave, ambitious, goofy, confident, spirited, happy, worry free, empathetic, perfect, athletic, worthy and so much more.